I liked the setting and Briar Blue (Wilkes) but somehow this story didn't lure me away from reality enough. The idea of a city that's separated from the other world and reigned by a gas called Blight that transforms people into so-called rotters (zombies) is a good setting...but I needed over a month to finish this book. I don't really know why. Maybe because there are no BIG surprises. Not a must-read in my opinion, but not a bad read either.